From The Bishop

This Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. The Gospel is from St. Luke and it speaks about distressing signs. There is no question that the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and in other places in the world are causing “distress among the nations”. The natural response to all of this seems to be fear, anger, and a desire for revenge. This is not what the Lord asks of us. In the Second Reading St. Paul states, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you! And may He so strengthen your hearts in holiness…” Here we find what our response should be as followers of the Lord. We are called to act with love and strive for holiness. In this way, we do not give into terror. We overcome it in Christ! Let us use these four weeks of Advent as a time to focus not on fear but on hope. Our hope is found in the fact that “a people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Let us grow in holiness by embracing Christ who is the Light of the World and the Prince of Peace.